Vending-machine.



A. n. GRQVER.`

V VENDING MACHINE., l APPucATioNrxLED Aus; 1o. |1912. I11235531 l Patented July 31, 1917.

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' [NVE/J TUR Alberi E. Grover i 5f 62 v AT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. GROVER, 0F MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOSALES GUM AND CHOCOLATE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed August 10, 1912. Serial No. 714,355.

To all I'io/wm t may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Gnovnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Malden, county of 'Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specilic-ation.

My invention relates to coinoperated vending machines of the so-called maga-y zine type, and has for its object the provision of means for normally closing the delivery Opening, in combination with means for normally locking said closing means in closed position,-the arrangement of said locking and closing means being such that the ejected article itself automatically unlocks the closing means and moves the same in open position.

In the broad aspect of my invention, the closing means for the delivery slot or opening may assume various mechanical forms, but in the preferred form of my invention this closing means consists of one or two vertically movable gate members. These members are normally held locked against movement by a locking device which is so arranged that the ejected article engages the same and moves it into releasing position. In the specilc embodiment of my invention, this locking device consists of a pivoted dog mounted on the gate member. This dog is normally held in position to positively prevent movement of the gate member. However, with the dog released, the continued movement of the ejected article automatically shifts the gate member or members into open position, so that the article is free to project through the delivery opening to a position for easy removal by the purchaser.

My invention is applicable to machines of various styles and construction, but for the sake of illustration I have shown my invention applied to a vending machine like that set forth in the application of James W. Patterson and John A. Webster, Serial No. 662,644, filed November 27, 1911.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view in cross-section of a machineprovided with a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig'. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing how the ejected article itself unlocks the gates at the delivery Jppening and moves the same into open posiion.

The various operative parts of the machine shown in the drawings are housed in a closed casing having the front wall or panel 1, the rear wall or plate 2, the top 3, the bottoni t and thesides 5 and 6. The casing is preferably formed of sheet metal and is fixed in place in any desired way. The front, top, bottom and sides of the casing may conveniently be formed of one piece, which is hinged to the back plate 2 by means Aof the pintle 7 carried by said plate. This enables the front part of the casing to be swung into open position to render the interior of the machine readily accessible. The back plate 2 is preferably provided with the top flange 8 and sidefianges 9, which surround the upper edge of the pivoted section to seal the same against forcible opening, as by means of a sharp instrument. A suitable lock is provided for locking the movable section of the casing to the back plate.

To the back plate 2 are secured the magaraines 10 and 11, which are spaced apart to form between them the coin-chute 12. These magazines may conveniently be formed out of sheet metal and are adapted to hold the vendible articles in vertical stacks, as shown at 13 and 14 in Fig. 1. 0n each stack of goods rests a suitable weight 15, to insure the downward feeding of the goods. The magazines are at their lower outer ends provided with discharge openings 16 and 17, respectively, sufficiently large to readily pei mit one package at a time to pass therethrough. At the bottom, the magazines 10 and 11 are provided with slots or cut-away portions 1S and 19, respectively, while at their adjacent lower ends the magazines are cut-away at 20 and 21. The purpose of these cut-away portions will presently appear.

On the front panel of the casing' is slidably mounted the coin-carrier .indicated as a whole by C. rhis carrier comprises a pair of oppositely extending wings 22, between which is formed the coin-slot 23. The wings 22 are rigidly connected to the plate 24, which is secured to the rack bar 25 by any suitable means, as by screws 26. The rack bar 25 is slidably supported on the front panel 1, by means of a pair of guide lugs 27, which extend through the transverse slot 28 formed in the front panel 1. The outer ends of the guide lugs 27 are provided with heads 29, Vwhich engage the outer face of the front plate above and below the slot 2S. In this way the coin-carrier C is slidably mounted on the front panel of the machine casing. On the wings 22 are slidably arranged the extensions 30, which are connected together by a cross piece (not shown), so as to move as one member. The purpose ot these slidable extensions will appear later on. On the back plate 2 is fixed the coin-support 3l, which' extends in opposite directions from the coin-slot on the carrier. As seen from Fig. l, when the coin-carrieris in normal or central position, the coin-slot 23 is substantially vmidway of the coin-support 3l. W hen a coin is inserted in the machine throughthe coin-entrance slot-B2, it drops on the coinsupport 3l and is retained in operative position by the slot 23, as shown in Fig. l. The coin-support 3l is proyided with ytransverse corrugations Si, which are so formed as to prevent retrograde more ment of the coin-carrier, as long as the coin engages onevoi" the corrugatious. The obj ect of this arrangement is to compel the completion of the forward movement oi the coincarrier, before the same can return tor normal or central position.V The teeth of the rack bar 25 are permanently in mesh with the pinion journaled in the front panelv l of the* casing `on the inside thereof. rrrhe pinion 35 is .rigidly connected with a suitable hand-operated member 36, which is preterably in the form of a knurled knob mounted close to the front panel on the outside ot the casing. lVhen the knob 36 is rotated, the coin-carrier C is moved transversely oiE the casing one way or the other, depending upon the direction of rotation of the knobA rlhe coin-carrier is yieldably held in its normai position by any suitable arrangementuas by means ot a pair ot piyoted dogs 37, jourw naled at the bottom of the front panel l. These dogs extend inwardly at their upper ends into engagement with trie opposite sides of the extensionBS formed on the rack bar 25. A contractile spring :i9 tends to hold the dogs against the extension 38. A. pair of stops 40, carried by the front panel, limits the inward movement of the centering dogs 37. f `When the coin-carrier is moved from its central position, one or the other oi' the dogs 37 is forced outwardly, and as soon as the knob 8G is released, the spring 39 draws the Voperated dog 87, and with it the coin-carrier C, back to normal position.

The sides 5 and 6 of the casing are each provided with a deliyery opening #il arranged in horizontal alinement with the dis` charge openings 1G and 17 oithe magazines 10 and ll'. rlhese delivery openings are normally closed by mechanism which constitutes the subjectmatter ot my present invention. rlhe mechanism is normally locked against operation from the outside, but is adapted to be automatically unlocked and operated into open position by the ejected article itself. ln the specific embodiment ot .my invention as shown for the sake of illustrations in the drawings, my new slot-closing mechanism includes an upper gate 42 and alower gate e3; These gates are slidably mounted on the side of the casing by means of studs elle passing through elongated slots 5 formed in the gates. at their adj acent endsthe gates are formed with oppositely extending .beveledV surtacesb, which terminate preferably in rteeth 4T. The teeth or the gates are arranged in staggered relation, so as to interlock when the gates are closed. The upper gate d2 normally rests in the position shown in Figs, l and 2 by gravity, while the lower gate i3 is held in closingposition bysuitable spring meanssuch as the spring d8, which is supported on thestud i9 and tends to throw the lower gate upwardly into closing. position. is seen,iiromddlig.V l, when the @fates are closed, they meet substantially midway ot' the delivery opening il-l. On the upper gate42 is pivoted a locking dog 50 by means of a pin or stud 5l, mounted on the gate. The. lower gate has piyoted thereona similar locking dog 52, by means of the pin 53.` Just above the upper end of the locking dog Y is fixed the lockingstud 5e, which is mounted on the side vof the casing., A suitable spring 55, secured to the side of the casing by the pin 56, bears at its lower end against the upper end of the dog 50, so as to holdV the same underneath the locking stud 5st. similar locking arrangement is provided for the dog' of the lower gate The lower` end of the dog is provided with an extension 5T, whichnormally rests over the stop or stud 5S, fixed on the side wall of the casing. The dog 52 hangs by gravity in locking position, so that no additional spring is necessary. It desired, a pair ot guide pins 59 may be piro-V vided to-guide the inorementot the dog 52. it will be clear from the above description that the studs oil and '58V positively lock the gates againstopening, until the dogs 50 and 52 are moved awayfrom the lockingstuds. This releasing of the dogs is automatically accomplished .by the ejected articleitself. The adjacent ends or the dogs 50 and are provided with oppositely extending beveled surfaces 59 and G0, which are substantially parallel with the beveled surfaces 41C ot theV gates andare slightly in advance thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the Vdelivery-slot protect- Y ing mechanism will now be understood and is as follows: l

`When a proper coin hasbeen deposited in the machine, it comeswto rest on the coin support 3l, as shown in Fig, l. lf the purchaser desires a package or piece of goods from compartment 11, he turns the knob 36 counterclockwise (as viewed in Figs. l and 3). This movement of the knob shifts the coin-carrier C, and with it the coin 33, toward the right (as viewed in Figs. l and 3). At its upper end the coin projects slightly beyond the lower end of the magazine, and as the coin is carried toward the rightit will pass through the cut-away portions 2l and 19 into engagement with the inner end of the lowermost package 14, thereby ejecting the same laterally out of the magazine through the discharge opening 17. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the forward end of the ejected package strikes the beveled ends 59 and 60 of the dogs 50 and 52, the latter are rocked away from the locking studs 54 and 58. The continued movement of the ejected package causes the forward end of the same to engage the beveled surfaces 46 of the gates 42 and 43, thereby forcing the upper gate 42 upwardly and the lower gate 43 downwardly into open position. the limit of its movement, the ejected package extends partly through the delivery slot 4l, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it may be grasped by the purchaser and withdrawn from the machine. As soon as the package is withdrawn the gates 42 and 43 automatically move back into closing position, carrying with them the locking dogs 50 and 52 into normal or locking position. Also, upon withdrawal of the ejected package, the coin 33 drops by gravity through the slot 523 into the cash boX 6l, suitably mounted in the lower portion of the casino'. The purpose of the slidable extensions 30 mounted on the coin-carrier C, is to allow the coin-carrier to continue its travel after the extension has abutted against the sides of the casing. This produces a longer ejection stroke of the coin-carrier without the necessity of widening the casing.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that I have provided an exceedingly simple and eiiicient closing and locking mechanism for the delivery slot.

No special device is required to unlock the mechanism, this being done by the ejected article itself, and as soon as the article is withdrawn, the mechanism automatically moves back into closed and locked position, in which it remains until the next article is ejected. Although I have herein shown and described a specific form of my invention, it will be understood that l do not intend `to be limited to the details set forth, as it is obvious that the principle of my invention may be mechanically carried out by those skilled in the art in other ways than that shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

i. ln a vending machine provided with a 1When the coin-carrier has reached delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough,

ybe engaged by the ejected article itself and shifted into open position, and means adapted to normally lock said slide in closed position land arranged to be automatically operated into releasing position by the ejected article, so that further movement of the article automatically opens the slide.

2. Tn a vending machine provided with a delivery opening Vand with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a vertically reciprocable slide for normally1 closing said openinO, and a dog consisting of a Single upright member pivoted to said slide for normally locking the saine in closed position, said dog being arranged to be engaged by the ejected article and thereby rocked into releasing position, so that further movement of the article automatically opens the slide.

3. In a vending machine provided with a delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a vertically reciprocable slide for normally closing said opening, and means for noi'- mally locking said slide in closed position, said locking means and said slide being so arranged that the ejected article first operates the locking means into releasing position and then automatically operates the slide into open position. Y

4. Tn a vending machine provided with a delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a vertically reciprocable slide for normally closing said opening, and means carried by said slide for normally locking the latter in closed position, said locking means and said slide being so arranged that the ejected article iirst operates the locking means into releasing position and then automatically operates the slide into open position.

5. Tn a vending machine provided with a delivery opening and with r`mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a pair of oppositely movable gates for normally closing said opening, and a locking device mounted on each gate for normally locking the same in closed position, said locking devices and said gates having oppositely beveled portions arranged in the path of movement of the ejected article, so that the latter first operates the locking devices into releasing position and then automatically opens the unlocked gates.

6. Tn a vending machine, a closed outer casing provided with a delivery opening, mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles through said opening, a slide for normally closing said opening, means for mounting said slide within the casing on the outer wall thereof for vertical reciprocation in iff 1,235,311

ing, and a dog pivoted on said gate for normally loclring the same inclosed position and adapted to `be operated into releasing position by the ejected z ticle itself.

S. ln a vending machine provided With a delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a movable gate for normally closing said opening,jand means adapted to normally lock said gate in closed position, said gate and said locking means having each a bevj eled portion arranged in the path of movement of the ejected'article, so that the latter first operates the locking means into releasing position and then automatically opens the unlocked gate.

9. in a vending machine provided. with a delivery opening and with mechanism :tor ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a vertically reciprocahle slide for normally closing said opening, a dog consisting of a single upright memlier pivoted on said slide, and a tired stop which said dog normally engages to lock the slide against movement, said dog having a portion arranged to be engaged by the ejected article, whereby the dog is automatically operated to releasethe slide.

lO. In a vending machine n'ovided With a delivery opening and with mechanism tor ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a pair of oppositely movable gates for normally closing said opening, a locking device mounted on each gate tor normally locking the same in closed position, and a tired stop associated With each loclring device for normally locking the gates against movement,

said locking devices and said gates having oppositely beveled portions arranged in the path of movement ot the ejected articles, so that the latter first operates the'loclnng devices out of engagement with said stops and then automatically opens the nnloclred gates.

ll. ln a vending machine provided ivith a deliverj7 opening and With mechanism for ejecting the vendible article theretln'ough, a vertically slidable member for normally closing said opening, and a pivoted member for normally locking said slidable member in closed position, said members beingy adapted to be operated by theA ejected article itself.

12; ln a vending machine provided vvith a delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough'.y

a vertically slid-able flat plate for normally closing said opening, said plate having a beveled portion in the path oi movement olf the ejected article', whereby the latter moves the plate into open position, and means for normally locking saidV plate in closed position, said locking means being adapted to be actuated into releasing position by the ejected article itself.

13. in a vending machine provided With a delivery opening and with kmechanism 'for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a pair of oppositely movable gates for nor-Y mally closing said opening, the adjacent ends of said gates beingarranged for engagen'ient by the ejected article itself 'and thereby separated into open position, and a locking member mounted on each gate forr normally locking the same 1n closed posi-- tion, the adjace it ends olf said looking members being in the path of movement ot the ejected article, so that the latter first operates the locking members into releasing position and then automatically opens the unlocked gates.

le. ln a vending machine provided with a delivery opening and with mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a pair ot' oppositely movable gates for normally closing said opening, the adjacent ends ot said gates being arranged for engagement by the ejected article itself and thereby separated into open position, and a locking member associated With each gate `for normally locking the' same in closed po-V sition, the adjacent ends of said locking members being in the path of movement or the ejected article, so that the latter first operates the locking members into releasing position and then automatically opens the unlocked gates.

15. ln a vending machine provided With a. delivery opening and With mechanism for ejecting the vendible articles therethrough, a pair of oppositely reciprocable slides :tor normally closing said delivery opening, and a pair of locking devices for said slides adapted to be simultaneously operated into' unlocking position by the ejected article itself.

lnv Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of July, A. VD., 1912.

ALBERT l). GROVE?.

llVitnesses Y B. P. Rnoiin'ns, Josnrn Kom.

Copies o this patent 'may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing Vthe Commissioner of racents,Y

Washington, E. it. 

